hotho se chumkar waha se chali gayi.
Jay uski jaati huyi peeth ko tab tak
dekhta raha jab tak wo aankho se ojhal
nahi ho gayi.
Vichaaro ke manthan me use pata hi nahi
chala ki kab Sham ne raat ka nakaab
pahan liya. Uske ird gird kayi saare jugnu
uske andhere jeevan me prakaas lane ki
koshish kar rahe the. Wo chhat se
neeche jaane ke liye utha hi tha ki chhat
par koi aa gaya. Chandrama baadlo ke
aad me chhipa hua tha, jiske kaaran Jay
ko sirf us vyakti ki halki si ruprekha hi
dikhaayi pad rahi thi.
“Tum yaha ho, mai tumhe kabse dhundh
rahi thi.” Khusboo ki alhad awaaj ko Jay
aasani se pahchaan gaya. Usne raahat ki
saans li. Wo dar raha tha ki kahi Nisha
se uska saamna na ho jaaye.
“Mai neeche hi jaa raha tha.” Jay ne kaha.
“Thodi der thahar jaao na. Badi maa kah
rahi thi ki kal tum log chale jaoge. Tum
mujhe yaad karoge shahar jaane ke baad ?”
Jay ko khusboo ke sawaal ne chauka
diya. Wo us din ke sambhog ke baad
khusboo ke baare me bhool hi chuka tha.
“Mai tumhe kaise bhool sakta hai. Aakhir
Maine tumhaare saath kuch bahut hi
yaadgaar pal bitaaye hai.” Jay kisise se
baat karna nahi chahta tha par Khusboo
ka itna hak to tha hi.